In a powerful display of cross-party unity, a Labour MP and a former Conservative MP are joining forces to tackle the alarming rise of far-right extremism and community division across the United Kingdom. Gurinder Singh Josan and Kris Hopkins, despite their political differences, serve as trustees for the Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust, a key partner in the Guardian's 2025 charity appeal.
From Political Opponents to United Trustees
Gurinder Singh Josan, the 53-year-old Labour MP for Smethwick, and Kris Hopkins, the 62-year-old former Conservative MP for Keighley, find common ground in their determination to resist populism and racism. Their collaboration underscores a shared belief that when mainstream politics fails communities, it creates a vacuum that extremist groups are all too eager to fill.
Josan's commitment was forged in the 1990s as a student at Royal Holloway, University of London, where a member of the far-right British National Party (BNP) enrolled. The presence of a UK representative of the Ku Klux Klan in the university town of Egham further galvanised his resolve. He has chaired Hope Unlimited's board for over a decade.
Hopkins's path was different. A former soldier who became a Tory MP in 2010, his first direct encounter with racist abuse happened fifty years ago, when he was just twelve. He witnessed a group of white lads abusing a Pakistani-heritage boy at a bus stop in Bradford, an experience that shaped his lifelong opposition to bigotry.
Funding the Frontline Against Division
Hope Unlimited operates by providing vital grants to practical, community-led initiatives. These projects act as local hubs, offering everything from youth clubs and employment support to food banks. Josan emphasises their critical role, stating that without these facilities, communities face a "dead end of nothing."
Both trustees stress the importance of physical spaces where people can connect, especially during crises. Hopkins recalls the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings in Bradford, where a Hope Not Hate event brought together thousands from all communities, the police, the NHS, and local government, providing essential reassurance and solidarity.
Josan points to the community response in Southport in 2024 as another example of people swiftly uniting to reject attempts to sow division after a tragic event. "I genuinely believe that people are generally good," he asserts.
A Message to Mainstream Politics
The work of Hope Unlimited carries a stark warning for the political establishment. Josan argues that populists thrive when mainstream parties stop engaging with and representing their communities. Hopkins agrees, urging his own party to represent everyone, not just the loudest or most angry voices.
Their approach is tactful and inclusive. Josan, for instance, does not assume flying a flag is inherently racist. His constituency office flies the Union Jack year-round, swapping it for the St George's flag on its dedicated day and the Black Country flag for local celebrations. The goal, he says, is to let symbols unite rather than divide.
Ultimately, their mission is to foster hope through action. Josan highlights the vast reservoir of goodwill in communities, noting the widespread volunteering, school governance, and trusteeship he finds at Labour meetings. Hope Unlimited seeks to channel that community spirit into a durable defence against hatred and despair.
